UPDATE 11:01 pm: Augusto Sakai wins by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28). Yes, that scorecard is correct. There were plenty of big punches from the big men, and a missed fence grab that should have seen a point deducted that was missed, but the scorecards will be the most controversial part here.
The UFC is back in action on Saturday, May 30th with UFC on ESPN 9, coming to us live from Las Vegas. The 11-fight card gets underway at 6 p.m. ET, and is headlined by Tyrone Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns in a matchup of welterweight contenders.
The final fight of the main card before the main event is a heavyweight contender fight between 12th ranked Blagoy Ivanov and 13th ranked Augusto Sakai. Ivanov is coming off a November 2019 split decision loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 244. Sakai is coming off a September 2019 first round knockout win over Marcin Tybura.
Ivanov, nicknamed Baga, is 18-3 with one no contest. His 18 wins are split evenly between KO/TKO, submissions, and decisions. HIs three losses include one submission and two decisions. He is averaging 3.56 significant strikes per fight while absorbing 4.44.
Sakai is 14-1-1 across UFC, Bellator, and other organizations, and has won five straight fightsm, with four of the five via stoppage. He has 11 victories by KO/TKO and three by decision, with his one loss coming via decision. He lands 7.9 significant strikes per minute, while absorbing 11.17.
Opening odds
Blagoy Ivanov: -106
Augusto Sakai: -121
DFS prices
Blagoy Ivanov: $8,000
Augusto Sakai: $8,200